Identify theft is becoming a big problem in today’s society, especially for those living in developed countries. Over the last few years the awareness of this crime has been raised significantly, but what is alarming is the amount of people who don’t believe it will actually happen to them. This very fact makes it far easier for criminals to steal an unsuspecting person’s identify and manipulate their money or credit.
If you are already protected from credit card fraud you will have your money returned to you once the case is resolved, but the amount of hassle and inconvenience caused can still be crippling. Credit card companies still sustain massive losses which could eventually have roll on effects to customers should this continue to happen more often.
Being able to recognize the signs of identity theft allows us take action much more quickly, reducing the impact it may have on us. But by knowing simple ways in which we can prevent fraud occurring, we can also reduce the likelihood of falling victim. Within this article are a couple of case examples where innocent people were victims of identity theft. By learning about these cases you will be able to better understand how it occurs and how you can prevent it.
Janet was blissfully unaware that she was a victim of identity theft until she needed to purchase a new car. Before she could make the purchase her credit score was checked by the salesman, who regretfully refused her saying she was in too much financial debt. Janet was shocked to hear this because as far as she was concerned she had no credit cards debts at all. Her identity had actually been used by a criminal to take out a large loan and purchase a house. Once the police began investigating, they managed to uncover the identity of the person responsible. Janet was even more surprised to find out it had actually been someone she had known quite well a long time ago.
Kimberly and her family suffered from a case of identity theft. Without her even realizing, someone had been gathering her personal information. Her name, address, phone numbers and social security number had all been used to take out a number of credit cards. The criminal in question had no trouble applying for these cards; everything was done online using Kimberly’s pertinent information. This was already a stressful time for her financially and resolving this issue made things even harder.
These examples demonstrate just how easily your information can be used to someone else’s advantage. Many of the perpetrators remain uncaught after going on the run and slipping through the net. However what still remains is the nightmare of trying to sort out the mess left by these thoughtless people. Securely disposing of anything which has personal information is one way of preventing this happening to you. Don’t make the mistake of casually disposing of your secure information with general waste. Be wary of leaving documents with your information around where others may come across it. Always remember this can happen to anyone, keep track of your personal expenses and credit report in order to catch on quickly if anything is amiss.